Mr Neill, a strong supporter of the EU Referendum Bill, said: "One of the first votes I ever cast was on EU membership in the 1970s .Now as I pick up my bus pass I am getting the chance to work with colleagues to secure a referendum for the British people."

"Britain needs a new deal with Europe and the Conservatives have a plan for change in Europe - renegotiate, reform and put the deal to the British people in an in-out referendum by the end of 2017," he added.

David Cameron has said he is ready to invoke the Parliament Act to force through referendum legislation, after a previous bill introduced by Stockton MP Mr Wharton collapsed in January due to Labour and Lib Dem opposition in the Lords.